The Top 10 Rums of 2021
Jamaica figures heavily in our look back at the previous year in rum, with its fingerprints appearing in whole or in part on four of our top 10 expressions released in 2021. Of course, there’s ample representation from other islands in the Caribbean – as well as some further-afield locations that stretch from South America…
Review: Cantine Ermes 2019 Quattro Quarti and 2016 Epicentro
Cantine Ermes is a major wine producer on the Italian island of Sicily. Today we look at two hearty reds from the operation, both built around Sicily’s indigenous nero d’avola grape. 2019 Cantine Ermes Quattro Quarti Appassimento Nero D’Avola Sicilia DOC – Made in the appassimento style (with partially dried grapes) iconic to Valpolicella, you’d…
Review: Jim Beam Orange
Want to shortcut your way to a highball or an old fashioned? A flavored whiskey might not be a bad idea, no? Jim Beam is no stranger to flavoring its bourbons, with the Red Stag line daring back to 2009, not to mention such products as Jim Beam Vanilla. Some of these creations have been…
Review: 2020 Clean Slate Riesling Mosel
Clean Slate has long been a no-nonsense way to get a great value on a solid expression of riesling. As always it’s a semi-sweet style of the grape. A base of honey and white grape juice makes this an immediately appealing wine, perfect for aperitif sips before, well, dipping into just about anything. Crisp with…
Review: El Bandido Yankee Tequila Blanco
The El Bandido Yankee Tequila Company launched in mid-2021, offering a blanco and reposado available regionally (namely in Illinois, Texas, and Michigan). Founded by former NFL player James Robert Morris and NHL Hall of Fame hockey player Chris Chelios, it’s another semi-celebrity tequila that aims to produce a high-end, 100% agave spirit which is —…
Recipe: Remember the Maine
Don’t remember your history? The Maine was a battleship that exploded and sank in the harbor of Havana, Cuba in 1898, after which the U.S. — goaded by yellow journalism — at last entered into war with Spain. Decades later the true cause of the explosion would be revealed — “self-inflicted” — all of which…
Review: Southern Comfort Black
When we last explored Southern Comfort way back in the mid-2010s, it had traveled an uncomfortable distance from the iconic liqueur popularized by Janice Joplin. Under the ownership of Brown-Forman, SoCo had become a vehicle for several heavily flavored aberrations, including Lime, Gingerbread Spice, and Black Cherry. That a version flavored with Tobasco was actually…
Review: Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon and Shenk’s Homestead Whiskey (2021)
We’re back with the 2021 editions of Michter’s Legacy Series annual releases of Bomberger’s and Shenk’s, albeit once again a few toe dips into the new year. Again availability is highly limited with just 1,735 bottles of Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon and 2,232 bottles of Shenks’ Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey hitting the shelves in late fall,…
